Alabama A&M officials announced the football player’s death Wednesday. Medrick Burnett Jr In a statement that has since been deleted from the school’s website. However, his family said NBC News affiliate WFAF That the player stays in the hospital.
HBCU officials said the 20-year-old suffered a head injury during a game four weeks ago.
“When the time comes, we will issue a statement about what we went through.” Burnett Jr.’s mother, Denise Burnett, told the station.
The university did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday afternoon after deleting an online announcement about Burnett’s death.
Burnett’s family could not immediately be reached for comment by NBC News.
The redshirt freshman linebacker suffered the injury on Oct. 26 when the Bulldogs took on rival Alabama State in the annual gridiron contest known as the Magic City Classic, pitting the state’s biggest and best-known HBCUs against each other. What did
Burnett Played in seven games This season after transferring from Grambling to Alabama A&M. Burnett’s best game came on September 21 when he recorded Three tackles at Austin Peay.
“Our Bulldog family is heartbroken by the loss of Madrick Burnett Jr.,” Alabama A&M Director of Athletics Paul Bryant said in a since-deleted statement.
Madrick was more than an exceptional athlete. He was a remarkable young man whose positive energy, leadership and compassion left an indelible impression on all who knew him. While words cannot adequately express our grief, we are humbled by the strength of his family, who stood by his side through this unimaginable ordeal.”
Burnett graduated from Mayfair High School in Lakewood, California, just outside of Los Angeles.
“We pray for his family and teammates during this incredibly difficult time,” Mayfair HS said in the statement.
Alabama A&M, which is 6-5 overall and 4-3 in that one. Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Action has one more game this season, Friday afternoon in Tallahassee against Florida A&M.